Chapter Text
The sky was a dauntless blue, the kind of sky you’d smile at as you leaned out of your window. The breeze that weaved its way through the trees was just as comforting, and yet there was no comfort today for Rapunzel.
All the crew-or what was left of it, of course- stared up at the sky with a grimace, and slowly dismounted off the makeshift buggy they had built- a far cry from the homely caravan they had grown attached to. The weather was beautiful, warm and serene, and they were on the outskirts of the kingdom they had left more than a year ago.
Nothing seemed wrong, and yet- Rapunzel stared at the rickety buggy, almost feeling the absence of the one who had not gone with them back home- the one whose hold they had narrowly escaped from.
Eugene was the first one who decided they could not stand like scarecrows outside the kingdom.
“Hey,” he said, reaching out to take Rapunzel’s hand and holding it tight, with a slow, tentative smile playing on his lips, “Look, sunshine, we’re home.”
As much as Cass still weighed on Rapunzel’s mind, she could not help but smile in return.
“Yes,” she answered, as the breeze drifted through her hair, “We are.”
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The castle was as fine as it had ever been, watching over the houses of its kingdom and perched higher up than any one. The water surrounding the kingdom gleamed in the midday light, and fishermen and merchants alike waded its waters, chatting with each other as they peeked at their catch of the day in between complaints and protests. The bridge that connected the outside world to the kingdom was not far from the crew, and the fields and grassy plains that led to the bridge was filled with ripe fruits and fresh flowers.
It was, all in all, a perfect day for returning home.
“That is very strange,” a voice suddenly broke the crew’s silence.
Lance, who had, since the Unspeakable Incident Where Someone Had Grabbed The Moonstone, been oddly and worryingly silent, repeated himself.
“That is strange,” he said and ran his hand over an old, yet unblemished tree, “where have all the rocks gone?”
The crew exchanged shocked looks. All the relief of getting back, all the joy of seeing their home again- they had flat out forgotten what the kingdom had looked like when they left. The rocks had made a path for Rapunzel, and yet not all of them had smoothened themselves out like a welcome mat- and now?
The rocks were completely gone.
“Maybe they just gave up,” Eugene joked, but his eyes were much more troubled.
“Well, whatever is,” Lance heaved himself from his uncomfortable position of leaning against a gnarled, ancient tree, “There are more pressing matters.”
His tone was light, but still Rapunzel could feel that heavy weight on her shoulders again. Her worst mistake had been thinking she was blameless. That was indeed a dangerous mindset- one that, not checked, could lead to hurt- and it had: twice, in her case.
She wanted to curl up in to a ball and disappear. Only two days ago they had met a wandering merchant who had been selling scabbards, beautifully ornate ones made out of tough material. She had excitedly chatted up the merchant, excited to see his collection, and had spotted the most beautiful scabbard she had ever seen. She had immediately taken it in her hands, turning around to show it to her best friend, when-
Rapunzel had stopped, whirling around only to face a tree.
Her best friend wasn’t with them, and she had tried to hurt them. There was no one to buy the scabbard for.
She sighed. It was of no use to just think about what had happened now- they had to be focused, to explain the situation to the King and Queen, to find a solution.
“All right, then,” the lost princess forced a smile and sauntered on, “Let’s get on with it.”
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“Lance, no,” the former thief quickly snatched his friend’s hand away from the red, shiny apple he had been reaching for. The road to the bridge was just lines of orchards and fresh produce, and the crew couldn’t remember the last time they had seen such a tempting sight.
“It’s only one apple,” Lance complained, “The farmers won’t notice.”
Eugene sighed, exasperated. “You forgot the time we stole a chicken.”
“Ah, the chicken witch hunt,” Lance scoffed, reaching for the apple again, “It was a chicken, not an apple.”
Rapunzel laughed, disguising it as a cough, and Eugene immediately leapt to deflect his friend’s quick hands. There was a brief moment when it seemed like Lance had gleefully gotten his prize and avoided his irritated friend when-
CRASH
The whole crew immediately froze as a figure leapt from the trees to head dive Lance, effectively knocking him over and leaving the apple untouched and uneaten. Rapunzel immediately pointed her pan at the intruder, and Eugene immediately contributed as well, letting out a confused yelp.
“MY APPLE,” Lance whined from his place on the floor, but the crew could only stare at the figure dusting itself off and huffing in disapproval.
“I don’t understand any of you,” the figure said, haughtily, “Stealing my apples and pointing weapons at me? What are you, barbarians?”
Absolute silence.
Absolute chaos.
Rapunzel swallowed hard and did not lower her trusty frying pan. Eugene could only grip Lance's hands in an attempt to make him shut up about his prized apple.
A chubby raccoon immediately leapt from the trees to rest on the figure's shoulder, chittering excitedly. Big blue eyes stared at the crew with annoyance, and Rapunzel snapped out of her trance.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, noting the strange absence of the googles on the boy's head.
"Excuse you, but this is my orchard," Varian-not-quite-Varian glared at the princess, "These are my apples, and I'll have you know the destruction of one apple will cost you around eight silver coins a piece."
"What."
Something was a little strange, and as Lance started to argue that the eating of an apple was not exactly the destruction of one, Rapunzel exchanged glances with a petrified Eugene.
"Varian-" Eugene squinted a little, as if he still couldn't believe his eyes, "Do the King and Queen know you're here, or..."
Varian turned away from Lance, who had given up on the negotiation, grumbling.
"What? Of course they do. I'm an apple picker, not their son," he scoffed, petting Ruddiger almost absentmindedly.
The crew exchanged glances, and Rapunzel saw Eugene raise his eyebrows in doubt.
"Also," and here Varian lugged a basket from behind a tree and picked the apple Lance had so longingly reached for, "How in the world did you know my name was Varian?"